Kansas funds one free ACT and one free WorkKeys assessment for high school juniors annually. USD 446 juniors are scheduled to take the ACT on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized test used primarily for college admissions, scholarship applications, and measuring college readiness in core academic areas. It helps institutions evaluate applicant preparedness and assists students in demonstrating their academic abilities in English, math, reading, and science.
USD 446 juniors completed ACT Workkeys assessment the week of October 6. ACT WorkKeys is used to measure and certify essential workplace skills (like applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents) for job seekers, students, and employees, helping them get hired and advance careers.
USD 446 juniors completed ACT Workkeys assessment the week of October 6. ACT WorkKeys is used to measure and certify essential workplace skills (like applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents) for job seekers, students, and employees, helping them get hired and advance careers.
Reminder: No School Friday, February 16, due to staff in-service.
On February 19, select 4th-grade students will participate in The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as "The Nation's Report Card." While schools will not receive data on individual student performance, NAEP is the largest, continuing, and nationally representative assessment of student achievement in the United States. It measures knowledge in subjects like mathematics, reading, and science for grades 4, 8, and 12. We're positive the students randomly selected by NAEP test administrators will represent our district and Kansas well!
Purpose: Provides a consistent, objective measure of student performance over time, offering a snapshot of the K-12 education system.
Assessment Areas: Core subjects include reading, mathematics, writing, and science, with additional assessments in civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology.
Administration: Conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), it uses a scientific, random sampling of public and private schools, rather than testing every student.
Results: Data is reported at the national and state levels.
Purpose: Provides a consistent, objective measure of student performance over time, offering a snapshot of the K-12 education system.
Assessment Areas: Core subjects include reading, mathematics, writing, and science, with additional assessments in civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology.
Administration: Conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), it uses a scientific, random sampling of public and private schools, rather than testing every student.
Results: Data is reported at the national and state levels.
Attention Bulldog Families: There will be no school for studetns on February 26, 2026, due to staff development.
February 1-March 1: Celebrating 100 years since the first Black History Week in 1926
USD 446 is blessed to have many wonderful people serving students, not the least of which are its school counselors. They work tirelessly to support students' academic, career, and social-emotional development through individual/group counseling, academic planning, crisis intervention, and guidance on postsecondary options, all while collaborating with teachers, parents, and administrators to remove barriers and promote student success. They teach life skills, help with mental health, and advocate for students to reach their full potential. Thank you, USD 446 counselors, for ALL you do!
Eisenhower: Darrell Clifton
Jefferson: Bre Toms
IMS: Christina Mitts, Chelsey Martin
IHS: Teresa Jefferson, Valerie Schmitz
BRIDGES: Mark Lasater
Eisenhower: Darrell Clifton
Jefferson: Bre Toms
IMS: Christina Mitts, Chelsey Martin
IHS: Teresa Jefferson, Valerie Schmitz
BRIDGES: Mark Lasater
Kansas Day commemorates the day Kansas officially became the 34th state of the United States on January 29, 1861. Known as “The Free State,” Kansas played a pivotal role in the abolition of slavery, joining the Union as a state where slavery was illegal.
No School for USD 446 Monday, January 26, 2026.
January is National School Board Appreciation Month, and we would be remiss if we didn't give a great big shoutout to the USD 446 Board of Education members. We appreciate the important work you do for Independence Public Schools! To learn about our school board members, go tohttps://www.indyschools.com/page/usd-446-board-of-education.
Please consider participating in Independence's MLK Jr. Celebration, sponsored by the Independence Diversity Task Force.
WHEN: Sunday, January 18, 2026
TIME: 2:00 (Soup Luncheon), 3:00 (celebration)
WHERE: Independence High School Performing Arts Center, 1301 N. 10th Street
There will be NO SCHOOL for USD 446 students/staff on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observation of this National Holiday.
We'd like to thank all Independence law enforcement officers and personnel who help ensure that Independence is the best place to work, play, and live.
During "National Mentoring Month," we'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who serves as a mentor and positive role model for the youth of Independence. A special thank you to our community members who commit their time each week to work with USD 446 students.
USD 446 is excited to partner with other community leaders throughout 2026 to celebrate Independence 250, a nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.
This calendar of events highlights how Independence students and educators will engage in this exciting celebration.
Thank you for your service!
Bulldog Families: Our counselors and school-home coordinators have compiled information about various community resources to support families in crisis. Please find images attached of food and other resources available in our Independence community.
Food Resources - Independence, KS
Independence Food Resources
October 13-17 is identified as National School Lunch week. We'd like to take this time to give a great big THANK YOU to all of USD 446's food service employees who keep our students' tummies from growling.
October is historically identified as Bullying Awareness Month. We'd like to take this time to remind our stakeholders of the variety of resources we have in Independence Public Schools to support kids. First, counselors/support personnel in every building (IKE: Darrell Clifton; JEF: Bre Toms; IMS: Christina Mitts and Chelsey Martin; IHS: Teresa Jefferson and Valerie Schmitz; and BRIDGES: Mark Lasater. Second, School-Home Coordinators to support all buildings: Alicia Sanders and Lindsay Reichenberger. Third, SparkWheel and student support personnel at secondary buildings: Nicole Percival and Mike Rose.
We'd also like to direct our stakeholders to support materials related to bullying on our district website: https://www.indyschools.com/page/bullying
We'd also like to direct our stakeholders to support materials related to bullying on our district website: https://www.indyschools.com/page/bullying
